GoKawiilStudy: Greenland and Antarctica have lost 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979
A new report published in Scientific Data finds that glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica have shed roughly 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979, enough to cover the continental United States in five feet of water. Researchers found that most of this loss—about five-sixths—comes not from warmer air but from ocean water eroding ice sheets from below and along their edges. Scientists cite examples like Greenland's Jakobshavn glacier, which is now retreating up to 164 feet daily.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The finding that ocean warming, not just atmospheric heat, drives most ice loss suggests current climate models may underestimate how quickly ice sheets can collapse. Faster-than-expected melt directly threatens coastal cities worldwide with accelerated sea-level rise, complicating infrastructure planning and adaptation timelines.
- 12.5 trillion tons of polar ice has melted since 1979, per a new study
- Ocean water melting ice from below accounts for five-sixths of total loss
- Greenland's Jakobshavn glacier is retreating up to 164 feet per day
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-09-16
Published there as: “Over 12 trillion tons of Earth’s polar ice has melted, as scientists warn about sea-level rise”
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